Kind of odd experience with TireRack

[Jand3rson]

I bought a set of Borbet Type E wheels from Jarvis in early April, with 8mm H&R spacers, which he originally purchased from TireRack. I remember looking at these wheels for my car a long time ago on TireRack's site, at which time, they were one of the wheels that came up when you searched an E30. The only thing the wheels didn't have when I bought them from Jarvis was the plastic hub centering rings, I guess he'd lost them or something.

So just now realizing I need these, I call TireRack on Monday. I tell him very plainly that I need 4 hub centering rings for a set of Borbet Type E's, for fitment to a 57.1 hub. He asks me what kind of car, so I tell him, 86 BMW 325es. A few seconds later, he comes back and tells me that they don't carry those wheels for the E30 3-series, and that he can't sell me the rings. I ask why, and he tells me that since they don't offer those wheels for the E30, I'd be trying to make the wheels fit on a car that they aren't intended for, and since they sold me the rings, they would be liable for any damages or injuries resulting.

It should go without saying, I was a little confused. I asked him why he wouldn't sell them to me on the basis that I was trying to fit wheels that aren't intended for the car, when they sell spacers, one of the main points of which being they are designed to compensate for incorrect wheel offsets. Once again, he gave me the same run around. So I asked him if I couldn't get them from TireRack, where else could I get them. All he said was "I don't know, sir".

So I called back 5 minutes later, got a different salesperson, and told him I needed hub centering rings for the Borbet Type H, which are offered for the E30 in 15's. I told him I needed them to fit a 57.1 hub, and within 5 minutes, he took my info, and I got them today.

So I ask you, was this trip really necessary?

[The Fast One!]

yeah tirerack is pretty funny. I hate how you have to search for wheels by car, because like you said, there are spacers so i could potentially get honda wheels for my BMW but they wouldn't want to sell them to me.

that's why I go to other places if I can find them.


At least you got 'em!

[AdironRider]

No, but what can you do? You got your parts albeit a little hastle. Its not like you dropped megabucks.

[Sour_Kraut]

Funny stuff I deal with people like that everyday.

[rwh11385]

Tirerack is just trying not to sell the wrong thing to ignorant retards.

If you know better than them, lie.

[Jand3rson]

Tirerack is just trying not to sell the wrong thing to ignorant retards.

If you know better than them, lie.

That's what I did. I just thought it was strange.

Fife, it's not a big deal, like I said, it threw me a little.

[Rigmaster]

They;re trying to protect themselves from idiots- problem is, they don't always have the correct info.

My experience was ordering tires for my truck- a '96 F350 Dually. I ordered some Kumho 215/85R16's for the rear (4 tires) online. A couple of days later, I inquired about when they would ship, and the reply I got was "sorry, but we can't sell you these tires for that vehicle, these tires are rated "Load range D" and your truck requires "Load Range E" tires. Now, I was familiar with this terminology, basically it's determined by the thickness of the tires (number of plys). I told the guy I thought my truck came with Load Range D tires on it originally but he disagreed. I went out and looked at the door jamb sticker that had all the original specs on it, and sure enough it said that the original tire was 215/85R16 Load Range D !!!!!! I called Tire Rack and told them what I found, even offered to email them a pic of the sticker. The guy said "well, we trust you, the tires will ship out right away"!!!!

Oh, and lemme tell you about the time I ordered some 195/60R14's for my E30 and they delayed the order again, saying they were the wrong size for that car and they could not warranty them. I told them that the early ('84-85) E30's came from the factory with that exact size tire- but they argued that their records did not show that- so no warranty......

Protecting themselves from themselves I say.


Bret

[e30vert]

First person you spoke with is a dumbass that is just "flying by the seat of his pants" hoping to make it through another call that comes in and then maybe another one. He goes through the day that way and was probably overwhelmed that you had all your ducks in a line and he was trying to slang his BS and it backfired.

When those knucledraggers start that shit with me I say , put your boss on the phone. If they ask why I just reitterate , "Put your boss on the phone". They typically do and I typically get whatever I need.

The attitude that I portray is Frank Rizzo esque (Jerky Boys made up character)

[Rob]

are you getting the plastic rings josh? I think I ordered some metal rings from another wheel dealer, and they were the same price or close...

[Jand3rson]

are you getting the plastic rings josh? I think I ordered some metal rings from another wheel dealer, and they were the same price or close...

Yeah, I got the plastic ones. They were $3 each.

[Rob]

well when those eventually where out from heat, look into the metal jobbies. I think it was vulcan tire or discount tire direct or something

[Jarvis]

Like I said over a year ago when I first offered them for sale, I did not order the Borbet's for an E30. I had to order them "for" a different car to get the size I wanted. TireRack does not like people trying to fit odd wheels to their cars. They don't like doing simple math or something, I don't know.

When you order the hubcentering rings, if you haven't already, don't even mention a specific car or type of wheel. Just the E30 hub size and the wheel's inner diameter (outer diameter for the 'rings). I forget where I ordered mine originally, but they had literally hundreds of different ring sizes. Probably a couple dozen different sizes with a 57.1mm I.D.

[Jand3rson]

well when those eventually where out from heat, look into the metal jobbies. I think it was vulcan tire or discount tire direct or something

Werd, I'll look into that after we get back from the Picnic. I needed these ASAP to get the wheels mounted in time. I'm putting on a spare set of tires just so I can have them on for the Picnic, and when we get back, I'm taking them off again until I buy new tires.

Like I said over a year ago when I first offered them for sale, I did not order the Borbet's for an E30. I had to order them "for" a different car to get the size I wanted. TireRack does not like people trying to fit odd wheels to their cars. They don't like doing simple math or something, I don't know.

When you order the hubcentering rings, if you haven't already, don't even mention a specific car or type of wheel. Just the E30 hub size and the wheel's inner diameter (outer diameter for the 'rings). I forget where I ordered mine originally, but they had literally hundreds of different ring sizes. Probably a couple dozen different sizes with a 57.1mm I.D.

I'm sure you told me that, I just don't remember it. But at any rate, I got them today, and they fit, so no big deal.

[Sean]

I hear ya Josh.

My dad was ordering tires for my brothers wheels, he got the 15" ASA JS1's (your old wheels basically) - I told my dad to get 225/50-15's - naturally, right - because they are beefier.

Well, my dad decides to clal to make his order, and the guy says that they aren't the right size, and says to get 205/55's - so he does it.

Boy, did I chew him out later. Not only were the 225's CHEAPER they would have given my brother MORE TIRE! I was like...DAD - THE CUSTOMER IS RIGHT! If they told me my tire size is wonrg, I'd tell them to fuck off. I'm the one paying the money - I'm not getting warranty - just give me my tires! LOL

[Jarvis]

I got them today, and they fit, so no big deal.

Ok, good. Glad to hear everything is coming together for you.

What size/type tires are you mounting?